Governor Shapiro Makes GED^® Tests and HiSET^® Exams Free for Pennsylvanians

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that $2 million is available to enable Pennsylvania residents to take a high school equivalency exam free of charge when they test at non-restricted public testing sites or take the exam via online proctoring. The funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Test takers can use a promo code, found with instructions on test vendor websites, to register to complete the exams at no charge. New test takers will need to register for accounts to use the promo code. For the GED^® test, register online and enter the promo code PAFreeGED in the Voucher/Promotion Code field on the payment page during checkout. For the HiSET^® exam, register online and enter the promo code PAFreeHiSET in the Coupon or Voucher Code field on the payment page during checkout. Test takers who already have a GED^® or HiSET^® account will schedule the tests through their existing accounts and enter the appropriate promo code during checkout. See more details in the governor's announcement.

New Dates for Virtual CareerLink 101 Trainings

We are pleased to announce the next Virtual CareerLink^® 101 (CL101) sessions for 2025! The CareerLink^® 101 learning opportunity is designed for any workforce development professional that is part of the PA CareerLink® system, no matter your role. Even if you've attended a CL101 class in the past, you would still benefit from attending Virtual CL101 and are invited to attend. Supervisors can register their staff, or attendees can register on their own after consulting with their supervisor. Registration for the July 15 session closes on June 17. Registration for the September 16 session closes on August 19. Once you register, you can expect a confirmation email after the registration closes for that session. It will include login information and a Participation Guide that you should get started on right away. See the CL101 Course Description for information about CL101 and how it works.

Upcoming Professional Learning for Adult Education and Family Literacy Staff

Staff at PDE-funded adult education and family literacy agencies can view a list of upcoming courses now available for enrollment in the PD Portal. For more information about any of these courses, please visit the PD Portal, open the course catalog, and view the syllabus. If you are interested in enrolling in a course, please consult with your in-house professional development specialist (IHPDS) to determine if the course meets your professional learning goals.

COABE's Community of Practice

Registration is open for the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE)’s communities of practice for administrators, educators, and adult learners that will start on July 1, 2025. A community of practice offers individuals the opportunity to connect with peers who share similar interests or roles, enabling them to exchange knowledge, solve problems collaboratively, and stay current with best practices. It fosters professional growth, builds a sense of belonging, and supports continuous learning through shared experiences and resources.

Literacy Everywhere Contest

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy recently announced the launch of the Literacy Everywhere Contest to celebrate family literacy across America. You can encourage families you serve to participate by sharing unique, inspiring images or videos that show what family literacy looks like for them. Use the printable flyer to share the contest with your community. The Literacy Everywhere Contest is part of the Barbara Bush Centennial, a yearlong celebration of the Foundation's founder's 100th birthday. The deadline for submissions is September 12, 2025. Grand prize winners will be highlighted at the National Celebration of Reading in Washington, D.C. on November 6, 2025!

Presentation Proposals for COABE 2026

Save the date: The 2026 national conference for COABE will be in Indianapolis, IN, April 12-15, 2026. Anyone interested in presenting at the conference can submit a proposal application through June 30. Presentations can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid (both in-person and virtual). The conference session presentations will be 70 minutes, but you can also present for three or six hours in pre-conference half- or full-day sessions. See more information in COABE's recent call for presentations.

The job postings below are for adult basic education programs funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and, at least in part, by WIOA Title II funds. You can also find the postings on the PAAER website. To post a job, please email the job advertisement to mjmanfred@tiu11.org. 

• Course Development Coordinator - TIU11
• Director of Finance - Delaware County Literacy Council
• Digital Literacy and Assessment Specialist/English as a Second Language Instructor - Vita Education Services

Visit PAAER.org for the latest PA adult education news and resources. Recent additions to the site include:

• ELA Lines of Inquiry
• Career Pathways Maps
• Updated eData Access Database Template

• NCFL Families Learning Conference - November 2-5, 2025, Charlotte, NC
• COABE National Conference - April 12-15, 2026, Indianapolis, IN

State and national organizations' newsletters are listed below and may be of interest to you. To receive the most recent editions by email, please subscribe directly to the newsletter. 

CEA National News & Notes

Features news and national information from the Correctional Education Association.

May Newsletter

Families Learning, News of the Week, National Center for Families Learning

Features information and resources for family literacy, early childhood education, and parent education.

May 9 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 25

COABE Connects, Digital Equity, Coalition on Adult Basic Education

Features national information, resources, and initiatives for adult basic education.

May 16 | May 9 | May 2 | Apr. 25